There Will Come Soft Rains
Where and when does the story take place?
How does the sniper get injured, and how does he respond to his injury?
A bullet hits him in the right arm, causing him severe pain. He tears open his sleeve and wraps a bandage around the wound.
What does Zaroff reveal about his unusual hunting hobby?
That he enjoys hunting people.
The wind whispered through the trees as the sun began to set.
What type of figurative language is used?
Personification
Her smile was as bright as the summer sun.
What type of figurative language is used?
Simile
What happens to the house at the end of the story?
It burns up in a house fire.
Who does the sniper end up seeing when he rolls over the dead body of the person he has killed?
His brother.
Who wins the game?
Rainsford.
His words were daggers that cut deeper than any wound.
What type of figurative language is primarily used?
Metaphor
The sign read, “Mr. Soinila Fantastic, Fabulous Fourth Graders!”
This is an example of what?
Alliteration
What daily tasks does the automated house complete even though no one is living in it?
Makes food, cleans, organizes, and reminds the family of their agenda for the day.
What is the main conflict in the story?
The Republican sniper must use his skills and intelligence to survive while being targeted by an enemy sniper and an armored car.
Why does Rainsford fall off his yacht, and how does he reach Ship-Trap Island?
He falls off the yacht because he reaches too far out for his pipe. He swims to to Ship-Trap Island.
I have told you a million times to clean your room!
What type of figurative language is used?
Hyperbole
The bacon sizzled in the pan while rain pattered against the kitchen window.
Which words are examples of onomatopoeia, and why does the author use them?
Sizzled and pattered; they imitate sounds to help readers imagine the scene.
What clues reveal what happened to the family that once lived in the house?
The outline of their bodies in ashes in front of the house
How does the author use personification in the description of the city or the sounds of battle?
The story describes the guns roaring and the streets as silent. These descriptions make the city seem alive.
Identify an example of foreshadowing in the story.
Rainsford and Whitney talking about Ship-Trap island in the beginning of the story.
The storm angrily pounded on the windows while the frightened family huddled together.
Which type of figurative language is used, and what effect does it create?
Personification; it makes the storm seem powerful and threatening.
After losing the championship game, Marcus felt as though a dark cloud followed him everywhere he went.
What does the figurative language suggest about Marcus's emotions?
He is disappointed and struggling to move past his loss.
Bradbury gives the house human-like qualities. Identify an example of personification and explain its effect on the story.
Student answers may vary.
What does the sniper's reaction to killing his enemy reveal about the emotional effects of war?
The sniper’s reaction reveals that war can cause emotional pain, guilt, and regret, even when someone believes they are doing what is necessary to survive.
Malay Mancatcher
Burmese Tiger Pit
Uganda Knife Trick
When the teacher announced the surprise test, a wave of panic swept through the classroom.
What does the metaphor "a wave of panic" suggest about the students' reactions?
The students' fear spreads quickly and affects many of them.
The old floorboards groaned beneath the detective's feet as he crept through the abandoned house. How does the author use figurative language to create suspense?
The personification makes the house seem alive and creates an eerie atmosphere.